John Simon

This rescue plan will be tabled before the Government and eventually identify solutions as to how to address this issue.

This decision comes after a recent visit to PNG’s second largest city revealed that major businesses in the sector have been seriously affected by this pandemic.

The Minister, accompanied by Vice Minister and Daulo MP, Pogio Ghate, and a team from his office and NAQIA officers in Lae, over the weekend visited some of the business houses and discovered first hand the economic strain caused by COVID-19.

Local MP John Simon announced this at the opening of a week-long sports program for primary school children in the district recently.

Students from all over Maprik, currently on school term break, flocked the town to mark the occasion.         

The independence games started on Tuesday, in Maprik town.

The first two teams to go head on in the first match were the Maprik Catholic and Motunge primary schools.

Eight primary schools are competing in Soccer, Volleyball and Rugby league.

He said all MPs crossing the bench, had done so because of funding constraints impeding service delivery in their districts.

In a phone interview with this newsroom today, Governor Juffa challenged the recently defected Opposition members of parliament, to ensure service delivery is priority for their people.

He claimed that the Government is using DSIP and PSIP funds to lure MPs to join them.

However, when welcoming the three MPs, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the MPs move to the Government was at their own accord and nothing to do with DSIP and PSIP funds.

Welcoming the Governor and the other two MPs, Maprik MP, John Simon and Usino-Bundi MP, Jimmy Uguro, Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, said their move to the government shows that the Government is intact and stable.

In a small ceremony this afternoon at the Sir Manasupe Haus in Port Moresby,  the Prime Ministersaid the MPs move shows that PNC led government is intact and confident to remain in power for the remaining parliament terms.

Mr Simon said whilst visiting the border recently, he found out that there is no water and no electricity, even no toilets at the border post.

Member for Maprik said it is a disgrace as we tend to fetch water from the Indonesia border to use as we don’t have any water on our side to use for toilet.

He said many people are frequently travelling on the border without even being screened properly.

“People are traveling in and out of the border without any consent or authorities’ control.

In 2014, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill visited Maprik district with a promise to allocate monies to refurbish the hospital.

About K18 million was first allocated for the refurbishment. Stakeholders, including the district and the government, had allocated K9 million each for the project.

Four years later, Member for Maprik, John Simon, says the pace is not satisfying.

Simon had recently visited the site and despite a few hurdles, he says work needs to go on.

This concern was recently raised by a member of the district management team Tobias Kwelik.

Kwelik highlighted that most of the businesses especially local shops were now owned and operated by Asians who are creating barriers in opportunities for locals.

He said locals are willing and ready to do business however they are closed off by these foreigners.

He also raised the issue of Asians taking money from the locals without banking or contributing to the community.

He demanded that the district look into this matter seriously.

This concern was raised by the Member for Maprik, John Simon, regarding the police station commander vacancy at Maprik Town police station.

Simon said Maprik police station has had no permanent PSC since the passing of the former commander.

He noted that the post has been acted upon by acting PSCs however, this needs to be changed immediately.

One of the major reasons behind his concern was that police in the district are too relaxed and there is no proper policing in the town as well as the district.

This was pointed out by Member for Maprik, John Simon, in the District Management Team meeting on Wednesday.

The MP stated that the district has set its goals under his leadership, with nine major agendas, including education and economic boost.

He said Maprik is a district that is well endowed in terms of income generating avenues such as agriculture and livestock, however this has not been utilised.

Education, he reiterated is seen as one of the platforms that will bring the much needed development to the district.

The trial hearing that was to take place in Wewak will not eventuate now after the court today found the petition incompetent, stopping it simply because Yangwari failed to comply with Form 1 of the 2017 specific Election Petition rules.

Yangwari also failed to state material facts in the petition to support the numerous allegations of bribery and illegal practice stated in the petition.

Last week Simon, through his lawyer Tony Waisi, asked the court to dismiss the petition and stop it from proceeding to trial because specifics were not stated in the petition.